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Robbery forced city school into lockdown

By Lisa Redmond, lredmond@lowellsun.com

Updated:
12/19/2012 07:22:32 AM EST

Volis

LOWELL -- With tensions running high after the shootings in which 26 were killed at a Newtown, Conn. school Friday, a Lowell elementary school was forced into a hard lockdown Monday morning when a bank-robbery suspect was arrested in the school's parking lot.

Minutes after the 10:20 a.m. robbery of the TD Bank at 350 Westford St. in Lowell, the C.W. Morey Elementary School, which enrolls 600 children ages 3 to 10, was ordered into hard lock-down, Lowell police said.

Lowell School Superintendent Jean Franco said a hard lockdown is when children are told to stay in their classrooms, hide and stay out of view.

While the shootings in Connecticut are on the minds of most people, Franco said the hard lockdown was requested by police due to the close proximity between the Westford Street bank and the school, which is minutes away on Pine Street. Police say they received reports that the suspect was headed in the direction of the school.

Lowell police say they captured the alleged robber, Robert Volis, in the school's parking lot minutes after the robbery. Although Volis allegedly told a bank teller that he had a gun, prosecutors say when Volis was arrested he was unarmed.

"Of course as a result of what happened in Connecticut (all) public schools feel challenged, but on any given day we take any possible threat seriously,'' Franco said.

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Lowell police spokesman Kelly Richardson said, "There was no indication he (the robber) was planning or attempted to get into the school. Officers who apprehended him stated he was just running to escape capture and never made any attempts to get into the school, nor did he make any statements indicating such.''

Both school officials and the police wanted to assure parents and the public that the children were safe.

In Lowell District Court on Tuesday, Volis, 39, of 317 Boston Road, Billerica, pleaded not guilty to a charge of armed robbery. Judge James Barretto revoked Volis' bail -- holding him without bail -- on a pending case and set $10,000 cash bail are the armed robbery case.

In seeking the high bail, prosecutor Raquel Frisardi alleges that a man walked into the Westford Street bank, walked up to a teller and demanded money.

Frisardi said the man started yelling at the teller, "I have a gun, now give me money.''

The teller handed over an unknown amount of cash, Frisardi said. As the man left the bank, he yelled, "Don't play any games and don't call 911 or I'll be back,'' she said.

Police were immediately notified and given a description of the robber. Volis was seen running and was apprehended in the school parking lot, Frisardi said. The teller was able to identify Volis and he had a large amount of money on him, Frisardi said.

When he was being handcuffed by police, Volis allegedly made the comment, "I can't believe how much money they gave me.''

Frisardi told the judge Volis showed a "flippant attitude,'' treating a serious crime, "like it was a joke.''

But defense attorney Robin Gagne argued that Volis suffers from mental-health and physical issues, making him a candidate for house arrest.

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